EU turns 'rogue state' into conditional friend

Tuesday 21 October 2003 21.45 EDT
First published on Tuesday 21 October 2003 21.45 EDT

Persuading Iran to comply with demands for nuclear inspections is an important achievement for Europe, as Dominique de Villepin, the French foreign minister, said in Tehran yesterday.

The agreement marks a significant victory for the European Union's policy of "conditional engagement" and the use of carrots and sticks, in contrast to threats from the United States against the Islamic republic, part of President George Bush's "axis of evil".

It does show that Europe has learned one lesson from the Iraq crisis, when it was split over the threat posed by Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction.

Aware that Iran would be the next test of its own unity and its ability to work with the US, the EU has learned to speak with one voice.

The change emerged this summer when the union's new security strategy addressed the problem of countries that "placed themselves outside the bounds of international society"- Europe's politer version of America's "rogue states".

First, such countries should be encouraged to rejoin. But, it warned, "those who are unwilling to do so should understand that there is a price to be paid, including in their relationship with the EU."

Iran badly wants a closer economic relationship through a lucrative trade and cooperation accord. But talks have been tightly linked to Iran improving its human rights record, meeting International Atomic Energy Agency demands, helping the fight against terrorism and supporting the Middle East peace process.

"We often find ourselves on the defensive, being told we are appeasers for engaging with regimes like this," an EU diplomat said last night.

"This agreement gives the lie to that argument. Clearly the Iranians did not do this because they feared EU military action. They did it because they want a relationship with us and want to keep channels open."

The episode raises interesting questions about plans to appoint a fully fledged EU foreign minister in the union's new constitution.

Dealing with Iran suggests that whatever institutional arrangements are put in place to make European foreign policy more effective, it will be the big member states who will drive the agenda on the really tough issues.

The unusual combination of Paris, Berlin and London working happily together may set an example for other key areas, notably the continuing search for an agreement on defence policy that does not undermine Nato.

It has long been a feature of Britain's European strategy to try to turn the Franco-German duo into a trio. Success in Iran may help advance that goal.